Chapter 229

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lieutenant General Yanagawa Heisuke, hearing Gu Shoufu volunteer for the mission, feared complications and asked, "Isn't this too risky? I think it would be better to advance in coordination with the Navy;

the Sixth Division's central breakthrough tactic — if done well it's a blossoming center, if done badly it's an ambush on all sides!"

Gu Shoufu insisted, "Lord Yanagawa, the Navy's advance speed is too slow, and the Navy has always looked down on our Army; last time they even let the enemy inside the Sihang Warehouse slip out and attack my flank. I believe even without relying on the Navy we can still win this victory and successfully occupy the enemy's capital!"

Lieutenant General Asahiko said, "The advance speed is indeed too slow. After the Third Division was crushed, I heard the Army General Staff is re-evaluating our Central China Area Army's operational plan. If there's no further progress, we'll likely have to halt right here!"

Upon hearing the Army General Staff wanted the Central China Area Army to stop attacking, the nine division commanders and two detachment commanders under the Shanghai Expeditionary Army and the Tenth Army all blew up.

Although everyone's offensive enthusiasm wasn't high, they all actually hoped very much to capture Xia Guo's capital Jinling. As long as they followed the Navy and slowly pushed forward along the Yangtze River, the Xia Guo garrison would eventually collapse; it was merely a matter of taking a bit more time.

But the Army General Staff actually wanted to give up attacking Jinling. As the parties directly involved, the division commanders couldn't sit still. How could meat already at their lips be allowed to fly away? As long as they entered the enemy capital Jinling City alive, that would be a considerable military merit!

Eleventh Division Commander Lieutenant General Yamamuro Sōbu said, "How can that be allowed?! We've shed so much blood; the enemy capital lies right behind the Xicheng Line. We are already infinitely close to this victory. Seizing the enemy capital, I think, would severely crush the enemy's will to fight and directly end this war!"

Sixteenth Division Commander also protested: "Exactly. The enemy didn't yield on the Songhu Battlefield, and now they're defending their capital Jinling. Since they refuse to submit, we'll just take Jinling down. I don't believe they still won't submit!"

101st Division Commander: "Support! The enemy government is a weak and incompetent government. As long as we put in one more push, we can definitely take the enemy capital!"

"I support Lord Gu Shoufu's central breakthrough plan — launch a surprise attack on the surface of Lake Tai, outflank and strike the rear of the Xicheng Line. We must not let the General Staff decide to halt the attack. We'll make it a fait accompli right here."

"Right! Once the Xicheng Line breaks, Jinling becomes an absolute dead ground. Serving the enemy capital on a platter — I don't believe those old geezers at the General Staff won't be tempted!"

The division commanders blew up in General Matsui Iwane's command post. Matsui had known this news long ago; that was precisely why he was so eager to break the deadlock.

Compared to the North China Area Army's successive victories in North China, the Central China Area Army could be said to be fighting a complete mess!

If the Central China Area Army produces no more results, the higher-ups will pull the plug on this 'project'!

After hearing this news, Gu Shoufu's determination to request battle grew even firmer:

"Rest assured, everyone. As long as my Sixth Division successfully crosses Lake Tai horizontally and gets behind the enemy's Xicheng Line, we can successfully break the deadlock, coordinating with all of you to successfully pierce the Xicheng Line from the front!"

Ninth Division Commander Yoshizumi Ryosuke raised his fist: "Well done, Lord Gu Shoufu. Let's show Lv Muzhi the might of our Great Japanese Locust Army!"

General Matsui Iwane walked up to Sixth Division Commander Gu Shoufu and patted his shoulder: "In times of national peril one thinks of good generals! Lord Gu Shoufu is our good general!

This battle concerns the nation's destiny! As long as we take the enemy capital Jinling, we can make the Chinese kneel before us and surrender!!!"

Orders were immediately passed down level by level. The first thing the Sixth Division had to solve was the ships for crossing Lake Tai. Gu Shoufu personally took command, holding General Matsui's written order, coordinating all parties.

The bulk of the ships naturally had to come from Gu Qingchuan's Navy support. What surprised Gu Shoufu was that Third Fleet Commander Gu Qingchuan was unusually straightforward this time.

Gu Qingchuan's thinking was very simple: if this bunch of Army idiots really could thread through Lake Tai and disrupt the Xicheng Line's rear, the frontal pressure on him on the Yangtze River would definitely be much less, and he could save many shells and minesweeping efforts. All this for the price of just a few small craft.

So Gu Qingchuan waved his pen broadly, drawing from his own Third Fleet and some auxiliary vessels moored on the Huangpu River and Suzhou River, and also allocating a batch from the Fourth Fleet.

This batch of equipment from the Navy mainly consisted of twenty-one Daihatsu landing craft. The Daihatsu landing craft are about 15 meters long, diesel-driven, with a maximum draft of 0.8 meters, capable of carrying up to 70 fully armed soldiers at once, and can even transport one Type 89 Medium Tank for coordinated combat.

In addition, the Navy provided twenty converted armed gunboats refitted from minelayers, which can not only carry troops but also provide a degree of fire cover and early warning; plus a large number of wooden assault boats, and over twenty steamers......

Besides drawing ships from the Navy, the Japanese Army also paid to requisition some small steamers from within the Shanghai Concession.

Originally the Japanese Army also planned to seize fishing boats from fishermen in the occupied areas to make up the shortfall, but in the end they still didn't act.

It wasn't that the little devils suddenly grew a conscience. Rather, if they seized boats on a large scale from the common people, it would certainly create chaos, everyone would know, and the devils' operational plan would easily leak.

So the devils' main source of ships was their own Navy; the shortfall was made up by renting ships from merchants in the Shanghai Concession with money. After all, merchants who have been paid are relatively more likely to keep secrets.

After the fleet prepared for the Sixth Division finished assembling, it moved in batches via the Baimao River, Liu River and other waterways, using nights and favorable weather, secretly heading to the predetermined departure positions on Lake Tai near Suzhou.

Four days later, the little devils' plan to cross Lake Tai horizontally was fully prepared.

"Report to the Division Commander, the 45th Infantry Regiment is ready and can be committed to combat at any time!" 45th Regiment Commander Takeshita Yoshikiyo said.

Division Commander Gu Shoufu looked at his own 45th Regiment Commander. This central breakthrough crossing Lake Tai horizontally would be carried out by his subordinate 45th Regiment — a total of nearly four thousand soldiers to be ferried across Lake Tai and delivered to the rear of the Xicheng Line.

"Regiment Commander Takeshita, I'll be waiting at Division Headquarters for your good news. I will unite with the other divisions and launch an attack on the front of the Xicheng Line to support your operational plan!"

The little devils' action was indeed bold, and the operation of mobilizing ships from the Navy indeed leaked no wind.

However, on the surface of Lake Tai, more than a dozen torpedo boats of Lv Muzhi's Yangtze River Torpedo Brigade had long been patrolling day and night; other torpedo boats were at Jiangyin Fortress guarding against the devils' Third Fleet.

The Xicheng Line National Defense Fortification are currently defended by Chen Cheng's troops. After Lv Muzhi and Liu Xiang's troops withdrew, they were arranged to the rear for rest and reorganization.

As for the surface of Lake Tai, Lv Muzhi also had precautions. He had considered the devils might insert from the Lake Tai surface, but the anticipated devil insertion should be small-scale, in units of squads or companies. He didn't expect that old fellow Gu Shoufu, driven to desperation, would directly organize a plan for four thousand men to cross Lake Tai horizontally.

Actually, if the devils' whereabouts were exposed, this devil force's situation would be extremely dangerous.

He had arranged torpedo boats to patrol Lake Tai day and night. If the devils crossed Lake Tai, the ships they used would absolutely have insufficient protective capability and could easily be surrounded and sunk by torpedo boats.

As luck would have it, Gu Shoufu's intention was ultimately still discovered by Lv Muzhi.

Among the twenty-odd small steamers the devils rented in the Concession, quite a few belonged to partners under Lv Muzhi's father-in-law's shipping company. The devils' movements were instantly poked into Lv Muzhi's ears.

Lv Muzhi warned Chen Cheng: "These are twenty-odd small steamers. One can carry over a hundred men; twenty-odd can carry two thousand-plus. The devils renting so many small steamers — either for the Yangtze River direction or for the Lake Tai surface!"

Chen Cheng was also highly vigilant. He wasn't worried about the Yangtze River surface himself — Jiangyin Fortress and naval mines made it impossible for the devils' ships to easily pass through the Yangtze. But if used on Lake Tai, with so many men landing, it would be extremely unfavorable to the rear stability of the Xicheng Line.

"Wei Yue, your troops were preparing to head to the rear for reorganization. I think we'd better delay a bit. How about helping me keep watch on the Lake Tai surface?"

Lv Muzhi felt the Japanese Army was coming menacingly. Lake Tai was too vast — unlike the Yangtze which is just a single line. Perhaps all his torpedo boats would have to be thrown into Lake Tai to timely warn and annihilate. That would weaken the Yangtze River surface warning strength, and shuttling back and forth would be very time-consuming.

It just so happened the 23rd Group Army hadn't left yet. Cooperating with his own Ninth Group Army, over a hundred thousand men defending key cities and spots along the Lake Tai shore was no problem. The dozen-odd minelayers already on Lake Tai could be used for reconnaissance and raids.

"I think that works too. My troops and the 23rd Group Army's troops might as well just rest and reorganize right on the Lake Tai shore, incidentally defending key towns, so the little devils can't sneak a landing somewhere."

"Your Fifteenth Group Army and Xue Yue's Nineteenth Group Army will just peacefully guard the Xicheng Line National Defense Fortification. On the Yangtze side, my Jiangyin Fortress will hold out as much as possible, so you won't be struck by the devils' naval gunfire."

After the two finished discussing, Lv Muzhi changed the troops' itinerary again. The Ninth Group Army defended the Lake Tai shoreline from Yixing to Wuxi; the Twenty-third Group Army defended the Lake Tai shoreline from Yixing to Huzhou, making it impossible for the devils to successfully land.

Anyway, the devils' warships can't enter Lake Tai. If the little devils launch a landing operation under conditions where our side has troops stationed on the shore, then this battle will be no less than the second Jinshanwei.

Within Lv Muzhi's defense sector, three German-equipped Divisions plus the Youth Army encircled the Lake Tai shoreline like an iron barrel. Liu Xiang's 23rd Group Army also deployed methodically, giving the devils no exploitable opportunity on Lake Tai. The main force of the Yangtze River Torpedo Brigade still remained at Jiangyin Fortress on the Yangtze, watching the devils' Third Fleet.

On a deep, quiet night, Sixth Division Commander Gu Shoufu saw off 45th Regiment Commander Takeshita Yoshikiyo as he boarded a steamer: "Regiment Commander Takeshita, this battle will surely establish our Sixth Division's reputation. Unfold a slaughter in the enemy's rear! I wish you a victorious start!"

"Hai! The 45th Regiment will absolutely not fail its heavy trust!" Takeshita Yoshikiyo raised his hand in salute.

Although the two appeared full of confidence, they still temporarily placed the Fourth Infantry Regiment's regimental flag in the divisional headquarters for safekeeping.

By rights, the regimental flag must accompany the regimental headquarters on campaign, unless at a critical moment, or executing a mission with no return, the regimental flag would be stored in the divisional headquarters.

Obviously, in the view of the Japanese high command, this was an extremely risky mission; to avoid the regimental flag falling into the hands of the Xia State Army, they preemptively withheld the Fourth Infantry Regiment's regimental flag.

Regimental Commander Takeshita Yoshikiyo boarded the steamboat; this steamboat was his regimental headquarters. Takeshita Yoshikiyo drew his military sword and shouted: "Fourth Infantry Regiment, attack!"

Nearly a hundred vessels large and small sailed into the depths of Taihu; besides the infantry of the Fourth Infantry Regiment, participating in the combat were also tank units and artillery.

On the Japanese Type 2 Landing Craft, besides carrying infantry, they also transported various light and medium tanks as well as mountain guns and infantry guns of various calibers.

As long as they successfully land, it is indeed a major threat to the safety of the Xicheng Line.

At this moment, in a small fishing village on the north bank of Taihu, Chu Yunfei and Liao Yaoxiang gathered together, borrowing a local clan ancestral hall as their command post.

The safety of the north bank was guarded by the two brigades of Chu Yunfei and Liao Yaoxiang.

Chu Yunfei said: "The torpedo boats on Taihu have not yet discovered any abnormal situation; the fishing boats we sent out to scout have also brought no news. The devils have so many steamboats — could they be for hauling supplies?"

Liao Yaoxiang shook his head: "If they were truly for hauling supplies, the devils would certainly directly seize the local people's fishing boats for free; why would they go to merchants in the concession to rent them?"

Chu Yunfei nodded: "Indeed so; the devils must be afraid that seizing the people's boats themselves would leak the news, so they secretly dealt with merchants in the concession. Haha, only this transaction ultimately could not escape Commander Lu's ears."

The weather was cool; Liao Yaoxiang rubbed his hands: "Let the devils come if they want; there is no naval gunfire cover on the Taihu water surface. If the devils force a landing, won't they also shed a layer of skin? Haha! Last time we failed to completely annihilate the Third Division, I've still got a fire suppressed in my heart!"

Chu Yunfei laughed heartily, picked up a newspaper bought from Wuxi City from the table, and said: "Speaking of the Third Division, this time our Youth Army has become famous. The news of crushing the Third Division has already made the papers; now the whole country is invigorated!"

"Oh? ~" Liao Yaoxiang took the newspaper, unfolded it, and examined it closely.

At the top of the front page, a striking bold black headline was prominently displayed: "Youth Army Smashes Enemy Chief, Third Division Nearly Annihilated!"

Below was another slightly smaller sub-headline: "Since Jinshanwei and Huishan Wharf, consecutive victories in battle; the Wang Jingwei Regime loses courage; the whole country is invigorated!"

Liao Yaoxiang's eyes brightened; the newspaper reported events he had personally participated in. Even though he was very dissatisfied with the strategic retreat, the newspaper's appraisal gave Liao Yaoxiang some consolation.

As the two were speaking, a burst of noisy voices came from outside the command post.

The sentry reported at the door: "Two commanders, the local Chen clan elder is leading the village elders to come and comfort the troops."

Chu Yunfei and Liao Yaoxiang looked at each other, thinking that since they had used the people's ancestral hall, they still had to go meet them.

In the open space outside the ancestral hall stood a dozen or so villagers; at the forefront was an elder of about sixty, spirited, wearing a half-worn long gown — precisely the village's Chen clan elder.

Several able-bodied villagers carried loads on shoulder poles; inside the loads were several large wooden buckets steaming with heat. The fresh fragrance drifted on the wind — stewed fish.

"Two Generals!" The Chen clan elder, seeing Chu Yunfei and Liao Yaoxiang come out, hurried forward a step, cupped his fists in salute, his face full of gratitude. "This old man brings the whole village's elders to specially comfort the soldiers! Some lake delicacies, all caught fresh from Taihu today, stewed a pot of soup, to drive away the chill for the soldiers!"

Chu Yunfei hurriedly returned the salute: "Old sir, you are too polite! Defending the territory and protecting the people is the soldier's duty; why trouble the villagers to such expense."

"General, your words are mistaken!" The Chen clan elder was somewhat emotional; from his bosom he carefully took out a stack of newspapers and said: "The articles on this paper — all news related to the frontline battles — this old man has already read many times!

A few days ago, greatly smashing the Wang Jingwei Regime's Third Division, beheading the enemy chief on the battlefield! And before that, the bloody battle at Jinshanwei, over ten thousand Japanese bandits fell dead on the beachhead! Huishan Wharf completely annihilated the Tianya Brigade! Sank the Wang Jingwei Regime's giant warships Yunhao and Nagato... Every single event, this old man has kept in his heart!"

A young man added: "Not only that, Clan Elder; there was also the destruction of the Japanese Marine Corps in August, capturing their Commander Oikawa Shichiden!"

Another young man also said: "In the paper you read last time, there was also that tank matter..."

Chu Yunfei and Liao Yaoxiang were deeply moved; everything Lv Muzhi had done leading the Youth Army, the common people had all witnessed with their own eyes.

The Chen clan elder spoke, then turned to the several young villagers behind him with excited faces: "The village's young men, having read the papers and heard the battles, each boils with hot blood; all want to follow the Youth Army to fight the Japanese bandits! Does our army still recruit soldiers?"

Hearing this, both Chu Yunfei and Liao Yaoxiang felt a surge of heat in their hearts.

Liao Yaoxiang stepped forward and grasped the Chen clan elder's hand: "Clan Elder's noble righteousness, the villagers' deep affection — we soldiers are endlessly grateful! With the nation in peril, as long as physical condition is qualified, my Youth Army opens its doors wide to welcome you!"

Chu Yunfei also declared loudly: "Clan Elder Chen, rest assured; my Youth Army will certainly kill more Japanese bandits and early recover our rivers and mountains!"

"Commander, there is movement on the Taihu water surface!" A staff officer came to report.

Liao Yaoxiang and Chu Yunfei immediately saw off the old clan elder, then returned to the command post to learn the situation.

The dozen or so torpedo boats Lv Muzhi had deployed on the Taihu water surface were mainly for vigilance, to scout enemy intelligence for the troops on shore.

The devils came menacingly; besides transport vessels, there were twenty-odd small gunboats, and more than twenty Type 2 Landing Craft also equipped with heavy machine guns.

The devils' ships are all small boats with too shallow a draft; torpedoes are obviously useless, and relying on the heavy machine guns on the torpedo boats cannot overcome the devils' numerical superiority.

Therefore, after gathering the devils' intelligence, the torpedo boats did not startle the snake by beating the grass; they directly left the battlefield.

Lv Muzhi ordered the torpedo boats not to act rashly; let the devils boldly land — heavy troops have long been lying in ambush on shore waiting for the devils!

On the lake surface, the Japanese Fourth Infantry Regiment's fleet continued advancing.

Regimental Commander Colonel Takeshita Yoshikiyo stood beside the cockpit of the steamboat serving as command ship, holding binoculars: "How much longer until landfall? We must land in the rear of the Xicheng Line as soon as possible!"

A staff officer reported: "Report to Regimental Commander Excellency, approximately another half hour until we can land on the north bank of Taihu!"

Takeshita Yoshikiyo was very satisfied; it seems Lv Muzhi and the others truly had no defenses!

Everything smooth, favorable wind and water; barring accident, the Xia State's Xicheng Defense Line is already in the Japanese Army's pocket!

"Pass the order down: cancel emissions control, increase speed, full speed ahead!"

The massive Japanese fleet began to accelerate; the roar of engines grew louder, rushing straight toward the lake shore defended by Chu Yunfei and Liao Yaoxiang's units.

Ships large and small cleaved the lake water; armed gunboats even trained their cannon muzzles on the ever-closer lake shore, preparing to provide fire support for the landing.

On the Type 2 Landing Craft, Type 89 Medium Tanks and Type 95 Light Tanks stood ready to rush onto the beachhead and raid the rear of the Xicheng Line.

Takeshita Yoshikiyo drew his military sword and roared into the communicator: "All battalions attention! After landing do not hesitate; immediately assault toward the deep area, drive away or annihilate the enemy on shore, seize the commanding heights!

Establish a stable landing field! Create conditions for follow-up troops and heavy weapons to come ashore!

Warriors of the Empire, the time to display your martial fortune has arrived!

After landing, you are granted three days of free action! Wash away the Sixth Division's shame with the fresh blood of the Chinese!"

On the north bank of Taihu, Chu Yunfei and Liao Yaoxiang's positions had long been prepared.

The positions implemented strict light control; in the dark of night, the devils looking from the lake surface at the lake shore discovered nothing unusual.

The Youth Army soldiers on shore could even hear the engines of the Japanese landing craft, yet the devils had not detected the Youth Army's movements.

"The devils are landing!" Chu Yunfei grabbed the telephone: "Fire illumination flares in five minutes!

Forward First Battalion, Second Battalion, all anti-tank firepower and heavy machine gun positions within the preset positions, prepare to shoot! Rear artillery positions prepare!"

Squad after squad of soldiers carrying weapons, along already surveyed routes, jogged into those defensive works transformed from lakeside slopes, reed marshes, and abandoned houses.

The 37mm anti-tank gun's gun cover was pried open, its pitch-black muzzle pointing at the vast, misty lake surface; the M2 heavy machine gun's heavy tripod was firmly fixed to the ground, the assistant gunner loading the long ammunition belt mixed with tracer rounds into the feed tray;

The 20mm cannon gunners also stood strictly awaiting battle.

At the concealed artillery positions slightly further back, the 75mm mountain gun and infantry gun crews were already in position, shell boxes opened, gun commanders contacting the forward observation posts via field telephone, ready at any time to strike the enemy convoy attempting to land.

As the convoy drew ever closer to the Taihu shore, Colonel Takeshita Yoshikiyo grew increasingly excited; if successful, he would become the Central China Area Army's greatest hero!

Takeshita Yoshikiyo ran into the steamship's cockpit, ordering all ships in the convoy to switch on searchlights, illuminate the beachhead, and for all hands to rush ashore and land.

"Faster! I can't wait to penetrate deep into the enemy's defensive lines!!!" Takeshita Yoshikiyo said to a navy sailor on the steamship.

"Colonel Excellency rest assured, our navy's ships are famously fast!"

"Yoshi!"

Hiss-hiss-hiss-hiss-hiss-hiss!

Dozens of illumination flares rose into the night sky, lighting up Takeshita Yoshikiyo's regiment bright as day, whereupon searchlights on shore also lit up, beginning to sweep and strafe Takeshita Yoshikiyo's convoy.

"Bad, exposed!!! Force the landing!"

Boom-boom-boom!!!

In Colonel Takeshita Yoshikiyo's large, dark, gleaming eyes, all was the bright glare of illumination flares and artillery fire.

The Youth Army's artillery fire relentlessly struck Takeshita Yoshikiyo's convoy.

The steamship Takeshita Yoshikiyo rode in, right at the start of battle, was hit by a 37mm shell, sinking ship and man into Taihu.

Truly, he came in haste and went in haste!

【The above is a 6,000-character three-in-one mega chapter, haha】